light roast. notes of granny smith apple, delicate florals, and stone fruit
region: huila
town: pitalito
producers: 80+ members of asobombo cooperative
varietal: pink bourbon
process: fully washed
elevation: 1500-1850 masl
importer: sucafina
from sucafina:
Grupo Asociativo El Bombo Pitalito Inza, Asombombo for short, was founded by Luis Alfredo Diaz to increase market access and attain fair, sustainable prices for their coffee. Today, more than 80 members are Organic certified and sell their coffees with Asobombo to garner higher prices for their hard work.
In Pitalito, farms tend to be slightly larger than other regions of Colombia. Most farms here are between 3 and 5 hectares, compared to 1 to 3 hectares in other regions. Most of the families living in Pitalito today immigrated from Nariño in the 19th and 20th centuries. Nariño used to be much more densely populated than Huila, but many people migrated to Pitalito in search of affordable, fertile land.
In addition to coffee, many producers in Pitalito also grow sugarcane. Asobombo helped member communities build mills where farmers can process sugarcane into panela, a typical raw sugarcane product that is common in rural Colombia.
Members and their families selectively handpick ripe, red cherry and process it on their farms. They pulp cherry on small handcrank pulpers and ferment it in tanks for 12 to 36 hours. Following fermentation, parchment is washed in clean water and laid in parabolic beds, marquesinas or patios to dry. They rake parchment frequently to ensure even drying.
Pink Bourbon, a hybrid of Yellow and Red Bourbon varieties, was first discovered and grown in Colombia. Taste-wise, Pink Bourbon has all the advantages of its Bourbon parents. The highlights of the typical Pink Bourbon profile is the strong floral notes and pleasant acidity frequently found in East African coffees.
And there’s more than color and altitude on its side. Chemical breakdowns have found that Pink Bourbon has higher glucose content. This additional glucose means not only a sweeter cup, but also a silkier body and more luscious mouthfeel.
Some farmers also report that Pink Bourbon has more disease resistance than is Red and Yellow parents.